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W
e have been richly gifted by health care ministry in the church from the earliest
times. The power to heal in the New Testament was given within a missionary con-
text, not for the exaltation of the Twelve or the Seventy-Two, but to confirm their mis-
sion.1 What is understood today as the sacrament of anointing of the sick is rooted in James
5:13-15:
Is anyone among you suffer- pastoral care of the dying and readings, responses
ing? He should pray. Is anyone and verses from Scripture.
in good spirits? He should sing Other sacred rituals are also available in the
praise. Is anyone among you sick? Roman Missal containing a Mass for the Infirm in
He should summon the presbyters which, in addition to spiritual graces, the health of
of the church, and they should the sick is requested. The Roman ritual contains
pray over him and anoint [him] blessings for the infirm and blessings for adults
with oil in the name of the Lord, and children. Canons 998 -1007 prescribe the con-
and the prayer of faith will save ditions for the proper celebration of the Anoint-
SR. MARLENE the sick person, and the Lord will ing of the Sick.3
WEISENBECK raise him up. If he has committed
any sins, he will be forgiven. NATURE AND EFFECTS OF THE SACRAMENT
The Catholic community is Ritual prayer and action by their very nature in-
committed to a sacramental view of the world volve an encounter with God’s presence in faith
wherein clergy, religious and lay ecclesial min- and culture, according to Pastoral Care of the Sick.
isters all minister to the sick and infirm, as well The sacramental action of anointing with oil and
as their family and friends who accompany them prayer over an individual is an efficacious action
in the journey of suffering. The current liturgical for a sick person. Prayer of intercession or petition
rite for the Anointing of the Sick states that human accompanies this ritual action. The Catechism of
illness is part of the mystery of salvation. We seek the Catholic Church outlines the effects of the sac-
good health to enable us to fulfill our role in society rament: The sick person is united to the passion
and in the church. At the same time, those who are of Christ for one’s own good and that of the whole
ill and infirm remind us of essential things and the church. Strengthening, peace, healing grace and
necessity of the redemption of our lives through the courage are given to endure the sufferings of anxi-
mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection.2 ety, illness or old age. Sins are forgiven if the sick
person was not able to obtain this through the Sac-
THE CANONICAL RITES OF HEALING rament of Reconciliation. Health may be restored
Sacrosanctum concilium 59 and Canon 840 of the or one is prepared for passing into eternal life.4
1983 Code of Canon Law note that sacraments are There are three aspects of celebrating the
ordered for the sanctification of all people and to Anointing of the Sick. First, the prayer of faith by
build up the Body of Christ in order that they may which the community asks for God’s help for the
render worship to God. On Nov. 30, 1972, Pope sick; second, the laying on of hands indicating the
Paul VI issued an apostolic constitution that re- person is the recipient of the prayer of faith; and
vised the formula and approved the rites to be ob- third, the anointing with oil on the forehead and
served for anointing and pastoral care of the sick. hands signifying healing, strengthening and the
The English translation of the liturgical ritual was presence of God. A generous amount of oil is to
published in 1983 and is known as Pastoral Care of be used so that it can be seen and felt. Any part
the Sick: Rites of Anointing and Viaticum. It also in- of the body (the place of pain or injury) may be
cludes sections pertaining to the care of the sick, anointed during the prayer. In case of necessity,
THE MANNER AND TIME Pastoral Care of the Sick 168-174, which
The canons simply state that the sacrament may speaks to the care of a dying child and adapting
be celebrated at an opportune time with members the ritual to the understanding of the child
of the family and others from the faith community, Viaticum is the last sacrament of Christian
effectively expressing the share that each one has life. It is food for the passage to eternal life and
in the suffering of others. The ritual should cor- should be offered under both forms of bread and
respond to the particular situation of the person wine when possible. The ritual includes a renewal
who is sick. Preferably, the celebration would take of baptismal profession of faith and a sign of peace
place while the person is capable of active partici- Anointing in a hospital or institution
pation and at least implicitly gives consent. If the minister arrives after time of death,
Communal celebrations may be celebrated in prayers for the dead conclude with a blessing or a
one place and following the prescriptions of the signing of the cross on the forehead
liturgical books and directives as may be provided A continuous rite of penance, anointing and
by the diocesan bishop. viaticum (Pastoral Care of the Sick 236-258)
The situation or occasion determines the num- A rite for emergencies includes sacramental
ber of anointings — for example, during subse- confession, then viaticum, then anointing
quent illnesses or if there is a more
serious crisis in the same illness.
If a person has lost consciousness There is no prohibition to other
or the use of reason, or is in a case members of Christ’s body offering
of doubt, (whether the person has
reached the age of reason, is seri- prayers on behalf of the sick, and even
ously ill or is dead) it may be ad-
ministered conditionally, presum-
laying hands on them or using oil.
ing the individual would desire the
sacrament. If a person has expired, then prayers There is a rite of Christian initiation at the
of the dead and prayers for the commendation of time of death. In such an instance, the person must
the dying person are said. These prayers are not be able to hear and answer the questions. The in-
restricted to the ordained but by anyone who min- dividual is baptized, confirmed, and receives Eu-
isters pastorally to a dying person. charist as viaticum
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